1985 New South Wales Open

2nd Round at the 1985 New South Wales Open : Hana Mandlikova vs Lori McNeil

“Hana: I’m ready for Navratilova”

In her opening singles match of the 1985 NSW Open, US Open champion Hana Mandlikova began her campaign with a confident performance, defeating 21-year-old Californian Lori McNeil 6-2, 6-2 in just 51 minutes. This match marked Mandlikova’s first grass-court appearance since Wimbledon, and she used it to assert her readiness for a potential rematch with Martina Navratilova, the world No. 2. Mandlikova expressed satisfaction with her physical condition, stating,

“I have not been able to break at all since the US Open, but I am not feeling tired at all.”

She attributed her refreshed mindset to learning how to relax and disconnect from tennis, a practice that had greatly benefited her. Though she acknowledged it was early in the tournament, Mandlikova was confident in her ability to sharpen her game further. McNeil, meanwhile, struggled with the windy conditions and multiple double faults, offering little resistance to the Czech player.

New South Walses Hana Mandlikova’s Journey to the 1985 New South Wales Open Final

Hana Mandlikova’s campaign at the 1985 Family Circle NSW Open in Sydney showed she was not deserving the “inconsistent” label, as she advanced through tough matches against Lori McNeil, Larissa Savchenko, and Svetlana Parkhomenko. Her semifinal win over Claudia Kohde-Kilsch set up a highly anticipated final against Martina Navratilova, where Mandlikova demonstrated her competitive spirit despite falling to the world’s best player.

3rd Round the 1985 New South Wales Open : Hana Mandlikova vs Larissa Savchenko

Mandlikova Defeats Savchenko to Reach Quarterfinals

Mandlikova’s momentum carried into the third round, where she defeated Russian player Larissa Savchenko with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory. Her next opponent was another Russian, Svetlana Parkhomenko, who had made an impressive run through the qualifiers. Reflecting on her tennis journey, Mandlikova explained how a new, balanced approach to her schedule had revitalized her. She avoided playing more than two consecutive tournaments, a sharp contrast to the grueling six-week streaks she had endured earlier in her career.

“When I was 18 and 19 and had a succession of wins, I played six weeks in a row at one stage. But I can’t do that now—it’s too much,” she admitted.

Mandlikova believed her newfound “hunger and eagerness” had prolonged her career and projected she could continue playing for another five to seven years, though she joked she would not play past 30. Discussing her goals, she remained private but emphasized her admiration for Navratilova’s continuous improvement.

“Martina has won so many things, yet she feels she can improve, and I believe she can,” Mandlikova said.

Quarterfinals: Hana Mandlikova vs Svetlana Parkhomenko

Mandlikova Advances to Semifinals with Confident Win Over Parkhomenko

In the quarterfinals, Mandlikova faced Svetlana Parkhomenko, an intelligent player who had knocked out prominent competitors such as Zina Garrison and former champion Jo Durie. Despite Parkhomenko’s strategic game, Mandlikova’s superior power and experience led her to a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 victory. After the match, she reiterated her enjoyment of tennis, saying,

“I am enjoying my tennis more than I have in two years.”

Mandlikova advanced to the semifinals to face Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, who had endured a challenging match to defeat Christiane Jolissaint 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. However, Kohde-Kilsch posed a potential threat, having beaten Mandlikova twice earlier that year.

Semifinals the 1985 New South Wales Open : Hana Mandlikova vs Claudia Kohde-Kilsch

Mandlikova’s Brilliance Shines in Dominant Win Over Kohde-Kilsch

Mandlikova’s semifinal performance against West German Claudia Kohde-Kilsch was described as one of her best in Australia. Kohde-Kilsch, despite struggling with a leg injury sustained early in the match, admitted that Mandlikova’s dominance made the injury irrelevant.

In the first set, Mandlikova executed an almost flawless game, breaking Kohde-Kilsch’s serve four times to win the set 6-0. She carried this momentum into the second set, leading 2-0 before Kohde-Kilsch warmed up and fought back. The German player won three consecutive games, even breaking Mandlikova’s serve in the seventh game to tie the set at 4-4. However, Mandlikova’s precision and brilliance prevailed as she won the set 7-5, securing her place in the final. The victory set the stage for a much-anticipated final between Mandlikova and Martina

Navratilova. As observers noted, the two best players of the tournament had earned the honor of competing for the title.

Final: Hana Mandlikova vs Martina Navratilova

Martina says she’s back on top

The tournament culminated in a thrilling final between Martina Navratilova and Hana Mandlikova, with Navratilova ultimately prevailing 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 to win her third NSW Open title. This victory was particularly significant for Navratilova, as it likely secured her return to the world No. 1 ranking, pending official confirmation. Navratilova, who had lost to Mandlikova in the US Open final just two months earlier, admitted to nerves early in the match. 0

“I started off too nervously, and I just placed the ball in the court. I was mad at myself for this,” said Navratilova.

Mandlikova capitalized on Navratilova’s hesitation, playing superb tennis in the first set and delivering impressive winners. However, Navratilova’s champion mentality shone through as she elevated her game in the second and third sets. Her aggressive play and ability to break Mandlikova’s serve four times demonstrated her resilience and dominance under pressure. She acknowledged the challenge posed by Mandlikova, praising her as a formidable opponent and comparing her athleticism and versatility favorably to Chris Evert Lloyd.

“This last year, Hana has come up strong—she is playing better tennis,” Navratilova said.
“At her best, I think Hana is better than Chris. She is stronger and down on the ball with more top shots.”

While she diplomatically refrained from definitively naming her toughest rival, Navratilova’s respect for Mandlikova was evident. Mandlikova, in turn, defended her consistency as a player despite questions about her performance fluctuations.

“I think I am a very consistent player. I always was. Well, maybe not three years ago, but for the past two-and-a-half years, I have been very consistent,” she stated.

She emphasized that maintaining the No. 3 world ranking for over two years required stability, countering any claims of inconsistency.

(Article compiled from : The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald)